Roof Repair Factors

There are many variables that can cause a roof repair to be just a couple hundred dollars or upwards of a couple thousand dollars. Everything from the scope and size of the repair, to the location or the repair, and the materials needed to make the repair.

Shingle Replacement

The number one variable is going to be the cost of the materials. If you're using composition roof shingles it will be cheaper and faster than cedar shake shingles, or metal roofing materials. With composition shingles, it allows the repair to be more isolated since you can just repair small areas at a time without having to repair large chunks of the roof. 

Flashing Failure

A common roof repair is failed flashing. Flashing is usually a small repair and typically easy to access. Because of this, it is a more affordable repair item on the roof.

Roof Soft Metals or Deteriorating Wood

Sometimes the soft metals can been damaged by wind or hail and will need to be replaced. These are easy to access and typically just need a small amount of effort to replace. However, if you have rotted wood on the soffits or fascia of the house, it could be letting moisture under your roof or behind your brick or siding. These are items that could cause larger issues down the road. They could be far reaching issues that you would want to address immediately.

Roof Replacement Factors

Just like roof repairs, there are similar variable to consider when pricing a roof replacement job. The most common factors are the size of your roof, the pitch of your roof, and the roofing materials.

Size of Roof

Most roofers will price jobs based on the measurement of how many "squares" your roof is. A roofing "square" is a 10 x 10 area making up 100 square feet of a roof. This is typically how roofers will determine labor costs as well as how many bundles of material is needed. Obviously, the more square on a house, the more expensive the replacement will be.

What Is The Pitch Of Your Roof

Another major variable when estimating the cost to replace a roof is the pitch of a roof. The pitch is calculated by determining how many inches the roof surface rises across a 12 inch run. For example, if a roof rises 5 inches in a 12 inch run, the roof has a 5/12 pitch. Most roofs will have a pitch between 3/12 and 8/12. Any pitch larger then that will likely have an added cost for labor because of how steep the roof is. The higher the pitch, the more difficult and dangerous the roofing job can be, so roofers will charge a premium for the replacement.

What Roof Materials Are You Using

Just like any feature of your home, the roof has cheaper material available as well as expensive aesthetically pleasing materials. You could replace your roof with "3-tab" composition shingles or a higher end architecture shingle, or all the way up to cedar shakes, slate, clay, or metal materials. I would recommend consulting with your roofer when selecting materials. Make sure you use what a lot of your neighbors are using. You don't want to "outbuild" your neighborhood and put too nice of shingles on your house and spend more than is necessary.